“Where am I?”
my inner voice asked.
Don’t get me wrong, friends
I know where I am physically.
I’m standing at the kitchen sink
gazing out the window.
On the right of my periphery
there is a basil plant
I carried inside a few weeks back
when close-to-freezing temp
threatened to
flash-freeze the flavorful leaves and
leave only stems in its wake.
It’s a scrawny looking thing —
the leaves are smaller and less flavorful
than they were in the summer
When—
To satisfy Markolee’s palate —
I wrung two hands full off for pizza.
Am I holding on to summer?
At the kitchen sink,
The warm water runs over my hand
holding the plate that held my lunch.
Just minutes before
I was making myself a salad and as
I was sprinkling the dried cranberries
and goat cheese on top of my lettuce
Zahara gave me that teenage glare
then proceeded to ask:
“Sooooo…
you’re having elevated grass for lunch?
ELEVATED GRASS!!
I kid you not—
If you are raising teenagers—
it’s not you. It’s them.
If you have survived raising teens and
you have your self esteem in tack—you rock
If you’re heading into raising teenagers—Good luck, my friend.
Anyhow,
I brought my ELEVATED GRASS
to the spot in our home
that pulls me like a magnet.
It’s where the sun streams
through the double glass door
shines like a disco ball on the wooden floors.
I eased myself down
And my butt kisses the warm floor.
This spot is my favorite place to be:
It’s our office area—
The walls are adorned
with Ontonio’s vibrant paintings,
a djembe drum is in a corner
for our random drumming sessions
and our desk are
literally kissing each other.
Just few days before,
all three kids sat
with me in the very spot.
Markolee was being silly
and crawled under the table.
The kid inside of me followed him
and for a moment
I felt playful and safe under the desk
that felt like a fort with windows.
I took a bite of my ELEVATED SALAD.
The creaminess of the goat cheese
and the sweetness of dried cranberries
amplified the plane Jane lettuce
and
It sneaked up on me!
I’m in a new place.
I used to HATE salads
Just as much as I used to HATE exercising!
But now,
I’m doing both.
Where am I?
I am ELEVATING.
I’m eating foods that elevates
the energy I put into my body
I am elevating as a woman—writing my way into the life I want to have as an author.
I am elevating as a mother—mothering a young adult from a distance, loving this smart mouth daughter of mine, and crawling under the table to chuckle with my son.
I am elevating as a wife—putting the effort into making this man as happy as he’s made me.
I’m raising a virtual glass of champagne to you as we work on elevating not just our salads, but ourselves.
I LOVE CONNECTING WITH YOU
I like to spray a spritz of lavender before I go into the shower. It ELEVATES my bath time and makes me feel like I’m walking through a lavender garden. Share with me. What simple things do you do to elevate your life?
ON WRITING
I’ve submitted my BOOK PROPOSAL to my agent.
I feel like I am coming out of a two-week intensive exam so I will take my agent’s advice and offer it to you as well: “Take Good Care of yourself and I hope you have a little pampering planned.”
WHAT I’M READING
I read this sentence a few weeks back and it has enriched my life.
“The moment one gives close attention to anything, even a blade of grass, it becomes a mysterious, awesome, indescribably magnificent world in itself.” -Henry Miller
Who or what will you pay close attention to this week?
POEM OF THE WEEK
This week’s prose is from Rupi Kaur’s book, the sun and her flowers.
I’ve read all three of her books and I must say, I am a fan.
Thanks again for sharing the poems that are near and dear to your hearts. Keep sending me your favorite poems and I will record them in the upcoming weeks.
THANK YOU
Thank you for welcoming me into your inbox. It is a pleasure sharing with you and hearing from you about ways my writing has inspired or enriched your lives.
As always, I’m super thankful for all your support—encouraging comments, expressions of gratitude, and financial contributions.
Until Next Time, Enjoy Your Next Breath
Kadine Christie
